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Hi we are an Australian family planning to spend the Christmas vacation in the West Coast. We are excited about Disneyland and all the fun of LA, however we need some suggestions to celebrate Christmas Day. We are happy to hire a car and travel. We have a young family and would like to try Christmas "American Style" rather than sun tanning on the beach in as we usually do in Australia over Christmas. Our Christmas travel plans are from Dec22nd through to Dec 26th when we need to be back in LA. Hope you can help us make this a Christmas to remember. Many thanks. Trevor

Southern California is not exactly what I picture when I think of Christmas.  I think about snow covered landscapes Christmas trees; and houses decorated with thousands of tiny colored lights.  Los Angeles conjures up images of palm trees and plastic christmas trees.

You need to go to a more northern destination to find the typical Chistmas atmosphere that I prefer. 

Christmas tends to be a rather family oriented holiday, with the entire family gathering at home to eat a great feast and to exchange gifts.  I am not sure how you can find that unless you have friends living in the USA.

Thanks Mike, Yosemite has been suggested for a few days over Christmas. Any thoughts?

If you are going to be in California over the holiday, and you want the "white christmas" experience, head to the mountains.  Of course the top mountain destination that most folks would think of in CA is Yosemite.  That would be my first choice.

However it is a little late in the game.  If you want to stay in the park, try to make reservations NOW.  They may already be entirely booked!  http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/where.htm 

Some roads into the park close annually for the season.  Other roads may close due to severe conditions.  This of course is true for the roads in any of the mountain ranges in the U.S.  However the roads into the park are narrow, curvy and have stretches of cliffs on one side. During the winter chains are required to drive those roads.  They can be hazardous.  http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/winter.htm

Last time I was there, the park was hit by a sudden snow storm.  The ground was clear.  Then it started snowing heavily when I was in the park.  I immediately got into my car to leave.  (I didn't have lodging in the park and didn't want to be trapped.)  Before I had driven through half of the pass out of the park, I was in white out conditions, saw several cars stopped on the side of the road and saw one car do a 360 spin out to hit the mountain embankment.  I don't want to scare you or turn you away from the park in the winter.  I just want to be sure you are prepared.

Other CA destinations I would consider are Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. http://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm  Lake Tahoe http://www.gotahoenorth.com/  (north) http://www.bluelaketahoe.com/ (south).  I'd also consider San Francisco.  Though it's not too likely to see snow, there is something special about experiencing how a big city dresses up for the holidays.  And since it is in Northern CA, it will at least be chilly (vs. Los Angeles) and feel like you are experiencing an American winter.

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Yosemite is a fabulously beautiful mountain valley.  I have never been there in the winter, but I heard that it was gorgeous with snow on the ground.  You won't see a typical US family Christmas, because it is a National Park and a tourist attraction, however the Awahnee Hotel is a very classy establishment:  They should have the place all decorated for Christmas, and the staff will undoubtedly prepare some traditional feast and arrange some traditional entertainment.

I don't know if you can visit Kings Canyon or Sequoia National Parks at Christmas.  They may be closed during the winter months.

For an American-style Christmas, I would highly recommend Montecito Sequoia Lodge in the Sequoia Mountains: http://www.mslodge.com/holiday_christmas.html

Having recently moved to the States from Zimbabwe, we also wanted to celebrate a traditional, snowy Christmas and we couldn't have had a better time last year. With organized winter activities for the kids, as well as board games, table tennis and a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve, the kids had a great time. Add the fabulous food, fun entertainment, log fires and marshmallows, and, of course, all that beautiful snow, it more than made up for being far from home. We are even thinking of doing it again this year :)